Dave Mertz (M.Arch., B.Arch.) is the Director of the Building Preservation Technology Program at Belmont Technical College in St. Clairsville, OH, a post he has held since the program’s inception in 1989. He serves as Vice-Chair of Preservation for Heritage Ohio and as an architectural consultant to the St. Clairsville Architectural Board of Review. He recently completed terms as a board member of the National Trust’s Preservation Leadership Institute and is on the editorial board of Preservation Forum Journal. He is a member of the National Council for Preservation Education and served over a decade on the organization’s executive committee including four years as Chairman. A graduate of Kansas State University, Mr. Mertz lectures frequently on technical aspects of historic preservation, community revitalization and the role of the traditional building trades.
	Vicki Burton (B.F.A., A.A.S.) is an Associate Professor in the Building Preservation Technology Program at Belmont Technical College. Prior to joining the program in 1998, she pursued a career as a nationally recognized independent artist. Her time spent sketching structures and scenes along the National Road has made her one of the leading authorities on the Cumberland Trail. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and has pursued graduate studies at Ohio State University. A graduate of the Belmont program, she is responsible for teaching the decorative arts classes and lectures on interior finishes, historical documentation and research. In her spare time, she continues to illustrate children’s books for a national publisher and serves in an advisory capacity on numerous local and statewide preservation efforts, including leading a student crew in the restoration of the dining room at the Governor’s Mansion in Columbus, OH.
	Jim Galbraith (M.Ed., B.S., A.A.S.) is the Director of the Belmont Architectural Heritage Center at Belmont Technical College. Jim is a graduate of Belmont Technical College, Edinboro University and the University of Pittsburgh. A retired school teacher from a Pittsburgh area school district, Jim pursued a degree in Building Preservation Technology and worked for a Pittsburgh architect before joining the staff of the Building Preservation Technology Department in 2001. During his tenure as a teacher, Jim was selected to participate in the prestigious Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program. He is responsible for scheduling the Historic House Specialist Series and processing paperwork to ensure awarding of CEU and Program Certificates.
	Jeff Forster – Jeff has been working in metal since 1975. He trained in landscape architecture at Alfred University where he found the study of organic forms easily translated into his more contemporary original work in metals. Artistic Metals, his Wheeling based business was started in 1984. Over the past twenty plus years, Jeff has been involved in the restoration and recreation of many diverse period projects including vintage antique railings, balconies, fences, gates and pressed metal ceilings and has constructed the heaviest forged gate in the state of West Virginia. While he focuses mainly on the tri-state region including Pittsburgh , he occasionally does work across the United States . Jeff teaches the Material Science – Metals class at Belmont . Jon Smith – Jon is a superintendent with Allegheny Restoration and Builders, Inc. and has over 35 years experience in historic preservation and restoration carpentry. Jon currently teaches the Field Lab courses and has actively recruited students for on-going Allegheny projects located near the college. Mark Stafford – Mark is a graduate of the Building Preservation Program and has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Shenandoah College . Mark has spent most of his life as a carpenter constructing stages and building unique stage props for major productions throughout the United States . Since graduating from Belmont , he has been involved in a number of local projects including the repair of the Fort Pitt Block House, the fence restoration at the Woodville Plantation, the restoration of a piano at the Neville House and the reconstruction of 700 Moravian tiles for the Lake County Historical Society. Mark teaches the basic carpentry class at Belmont along with a number of continuing education courses. Dennis Wees – Dennis holds an Associate degree in Building Preservation Technology from Belmont Technical College and has been practicing the art of stained glass for over 20 years. His work can be viewed throughout Belmont County . Dennis joined the staff as an adjunct instructor in 1999 and teaches the basic stained glass course and a course in stained glass restoration.